Skip to main content

In Touch with Jesus

The Matrix movies explored religious themes like alternate realities or salvation through a sacrificial hero.

I like watching movies that entertain me, and touch on religious themes. For example Star Wars, the Matrix, or Gravity because I like Science Fiction, and also because they explore the reality of the supernatural while entertaining me.
Do you remember the TV show “Touched by an Angel”? According to the late author Phyllis Tickle, it brought religion to TV and made faith accessible to a wider audience. It also showed that there is a desire for getting in touch with the divine in our lives.
Word
People flocked to Jesus to hear him and touch him. They came to hear him, and touch him to access his power that healed people. Getting in touch with Jesus shows us and connects us with the God’s goodness, possibility of life in harmony, and way to be blessed.
Jesus declared that life with God transcends even adversity: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” (Luke 6:20b-22)
Connection
If you want your life to be changed by God's power, here’s how you and me get in touch with Jesus:
1. ... by listening to him like his disciples through his Word in the Bible.
2. ... through religious experiences like the sacrament of Communion.
3. ... in other ways, like a handshake, for example, or laughter, a cup of coffee, or friendship beyond personal, political, or religious differences.
The power of God’s love and of faith does not come from angels. But if you trust in yourself, you will not get the benefits of following Jesus. So, get in touch with Jesus, and bless others by touching them with your presence.
Message
The good news is: Touching Jesus heals us from our self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-indulgence. Jesus gives us access to God's Spirit of comfort, hope and trust.
Jesus says to you: Blessed are you when you stay in touch with me, and share blessings with the poor, the hungry, and the grieving. For yours will be the kingdom, you will be fed, and laugh with joy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome

Thank you for checking out Weekly Word, a weekly online summary of my sermons for review during the week, catch-up after being away, or sharing with others. I am Stefan Munker. I have been serving as a pastor in congregations since 2004. In that time, I have preached quite a few sermons to convey God’s message for member’s lives. I’m excited about reaching more people online. The Weekly Word blog is based on requests for spiritual support in daily life, a desire to share biblical insights from Sunday worship, and the question how to connect more people with the church and God. It is an evolving experiment, so give it a try, keep an open mind, and share your feedback. Welcome to Weekly Word.
Post a Comment
Read more

Renewing Devotion

My wife and I showed our devotion to Jesus by packing food for starving children. 'Why give money to World Hunger when they should help themselves and there’s people to take care of your own family or church or country?’ Or, one could say, why waste expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet when you could have used the money to feed the poor? That’s rational, selfish, and sarcastic Judas speaking to willfully discredit Mary. Mary however, responded with love, generosity, and extravagant devotion. Word The lectionary gospel on the Sunday before Holy Week tells of Mary sharing her devotion for Jesus. She uses expensive oil, and outrageously, her hair and tears, to express her love, her service, her faith in Jesus. While they are at dinner, “Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.” (John 12:3) Guess what? Mary doesn’t care about the cost, or what other people might say. She does what feels right to her....
Post a Comment
Read more

Give Praise

Church vocal and bell choir in worship leads the assembled congregation to give God praise. Throughout the Bible, God and humans have used music to communicate with each other and about God’s greatness. Word In the Old testament, King David instructed the worship leaders of Israel to praise God for the kind and powerful help they received: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. ” (2 Chronicles 16:7-9) The songbook of the Bible encourages creativity and diversity for giving glory to God with a new song. In one of its poetic hymns we are told that it is not only fitting but pleasing to God to join all creation “... with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!” (Psalm 98:6) And the early church saw spiritual songs as an expression of their new life in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote to believ...
Post a Comment
Read more